Magic Time

My Life in Hollywood

By: Hawk Koch

Narrated by: Hawk Koch

Hawk Koch is a renowned film producer who has served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has produced some of the most iconic films of all time, including The Way We Were, Chinatown, Heaven Can Wait, Gorky Park, and Wayne’s World, among many others. He was born into the business, the son of legendary Howard W. Koch, who ran Frank Sinatra’s production company, was head of Paramount Studios, and was president of the Academy. Growing up, Hawk was dealt an immense amount of privilege and was met with the challenge of living up to his father’s name. Howard wasn’t communicative with his children, which left Hawk a sizable hole in the experience of who he was.

Just shy of his 50th birthday, Hawk realized that he was depressed, a mess, and unfulfilled. Following the advice of a friend, Hawk visited a rabbi. “Who are you?” the rabbi asked. Driving home, Hawk realized he was about to find out. Hawk was finally able to confront his inner demons and reevaluate his life, and he was bar mitzvah-ed for the first time.

Magic Time: My Life in Hollywood is the story of a father and a son and the lasting impact that that relationship carries, against the backdrop of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

©2019 Hawk Koch (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Great Listen!

The Life Story of Hawk Koch was incredibly interesting and written with humility, humor
and honesty. And Mr. Koch has A GREAT Voice (I fell a little bit in love with his voice actually ❤️

I really loved how Hawk did not edit out his emotions, ie; tears of joy when he talks about the birth of each one of his 3 kids, other proud moments and tears of loss and sorrow as well. Don’t get me wrong, its not like he sobs or anything but its clear that he is choked up or teary eyed.

Oh yeah and then of course theres a TON of inside celebrity scoop, inside industry scoop.

A wonderful Hollywood story

This audio book was a true delight! I finished it in three days, as Hawk's stories are fascinating and fast paced. I loved hearing all of his Hollywood stories told through the complicated lens of being the son of a Hollywood legend. It is a beautifully honest book about those struggles, with his father and other relationships. His story of perseverance and self-discovery are quite inspirational. And at this point in his career...he has become a Hollywood legend in his own right...his way. Through extremely hard work, good taste and great relationships he has succeeded on every level. Plus the stories of so many classic films, from someone on the inside, was highly entertaining. And he has a wonderful voice!

interesting

Some great Hollywood stories and an earnest emotional reckoning. I found it to be enjoyable.

Magic Time IS PURE MAGIC!

I absolutely loved the audio book, Magic Time: My Life in Hollywood, discovering both insight and humor in its pages. Its approximately 8 hours in listening length. I have to admit, I binge-listened to the audio book in less than 2 days. It was so damn entertaining!

Director Mike Nichols told me that “storytelling is all about putting the emphasis on the story in the right place.” In the audio book, Hawk knows exactly where he’s taking the listener and proves to be a natural storyteller. With his timbered yet vulnerable voice, Hawk weaves a helluva tale that sparkles with his impersonations of such luminaries as Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson, Robert Evans, and Robert DeNiro. It’s a hoot but it’s also poignant.

A legend in the entertainment business, Hawk Koch has worked on some of the most popular and influential movies of our time: Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown, The Way We Were, Heaven Can Wait, Wayne’s World, Keeping the Faith, and Primal Fear.

Hawk Koch was under 25 and working for B-movie Producer, William Castle, when he came upon the manuscript for Rosemary’s Baby. Hawk was such a champion for the material that he convinced his boss to get on a plane that very afternoon to fly to New York City. Within 24 hours, the production company had acquired the rights to what would become a classic, elegant horror movie directed by Roman Polanski.

I am recommending this audio book to everyone! It's just that GOOD!

Great look inside Hollywood

Hawk Koch gives his perspective of Hollywood through his lifetime in the craft of filmmaking.

Great read.

A great insight

I wasn’t familiar with Hawk Koch before reading/listening to this book so I didn’t know what to expect. But from the very beginning I was drawn in, I felt I knew him, his family and his journey in becoming a man in his own right. It is a very insightful and entertaining story with a colorful backdrop of Hollywood stars making it even more enjoyable.

Not your vapid HOLLYWOOD tell-all book.

Highly recommended, well written and honest. Fascinating history of growing up in Hollywood and working hard to succeed and thrive.
Terrific cast of movie stars and industry colleagues that Mr Koch has worked with and the experiences that they afforded.
These encounters are so vivid and elucidating and well edited that you wish there were more.
Mr Koch narrates beautifully.
I have listened to hundreds of Audible presentations, this is a winner!

Magic Time Casts An Emotional And Mesmerizing Spell

Hawk Koch has fashioned his memoir into an inspiring and relatable story about self-discovery, perseverance, and acceptance- A life lived in the shadow of greatness which ultimately climbs into the light and to the summit of success in the land of dreams and storytellers.

Mr. Koch has lived a life so full that he could easily fill several novels with his extraordinary journey in Hollywood amidst a cast of superstars both behind and in front of the camera. That said, what makes Magic Time truly unique and special is the honesty in which Hawk Koch explores his upbringing and subsequent life’s journey. It is an instantly recognizable tale fueled by a family dynamic which provided a young Koch love and support while simultaneously leaving him to search for understanding and connection, especially regarding his beloved father who kept himself remote and often silent in his son’s day-to-day life.

Film lovers will be enthralled by Mr. Koch’s mind-blowing career in Hollywood filled with unique moments between himself and a treasure trove of celebrities. Yet Magic Time does not arbitrarily name drop nor does it sensationalize its subjects. Instead, Mr. Koch provides meaningful and touching stories that serve to explain his attitudes and choices in life.

Mr. Koch has lived a life most of us could only dream about but his story is entertaining and surprisingly familiar in the best ways as it explores the universal questions that connect us all: “Who am I and where will I find true love and understanding?”

Listen, laugh, and learn from a Hollywood icon whose story is open, genuine, and rivetingly human.

Lovely Book

I have to admit, Magic Time moved me. It moved me because it's the story of a man who loves movies as much as I do and it's told with great care and love. It's hardly the usual Hollywood memoir. This is a man who helped make great movies, many wouldn't have been made without him, and he never loses his humility and self-deprecating humor and he never loses sight of the fact that the story is the most important thing. Lovely book.

Hawk Flys

Hawk Koch's honest, sometimes raw, often funny, ultimately fascinating audiobook provides a glimpse inside pre-digital Hollywood and an answer to the age-old question, what the hell does a movie producer actually do? Born Howard Koch Jr., he was "burdened" with being the son of one of the greatest movie producer/exec's for decades, but he was still drawn to do what his dad did, and become a producer. However, at age 50, he also renewed his Jewishness, had a bar mitzvah and changed his name to Hawk. It is worth a listen just to hear how he chose his new name. As this book reveals, he paid his dues to climb the industry ladder, working his way up from starstruck kid an AD to producing some really great movies. His insights into Chinatown and (recently deceased) Bob Evans, add to the history of the era, offering a very different view of the colorful, controversial one-time Paramount chief, and all of the Hollywood greats he met and worked with. If you are in show biz or wish you were, this is well worth a listen.